E-Blocks Microchip PIC USB Multiprogrammer

E-Blocks Microchip PIC USB Multiprogrammer and Processing Module	US$103.00
EB006

E-Blocks Microchip PIC USB Multiprogrammer and Processing Module

PICmicro MCU Programmer and E-Blocks Processing Module

This E-blocks PIC USB multiprogrammer and development board acts as "the heart" of any E-blocks system. It provides up to 5 output ports and regulated 5V power outputs (up to 400mA max) from a single voltage source to connect, power and control other E-block modules.

The E-blocks PIC USB multiprogrammer and development board will program most 8, 14, 18, 28 and 40 pin Microchip PIC microcontroller devices using the flexible programming software included, and provides clean access to all I/O lines on the relevant PICmicro MCU devices via 9-pin Sub-D connectors. The board takes power from an external power supply or from the USB port (only certain chips can be programmed using USB power, however). A Microchip ICD2 connector is available for on-chip debugging. By connecting additional E-block modules, this board can be expanded into a complete customized solution for development or training purposes.

The PIC multiprogrammer board includes a PIC16F88 microcontroller, a USB cable, and the PICmicro Parallel Programmer (PPP) software. It integrates seamlessly with the C for PICmicro, Flowcode for PICmicro and Assembly for PICmicro courses and utilities also.

E-blocks USB Multiprogrammer Features

Refer to image above

1 -- Power connector - unregulated 12V supply via PSU jack (accepts either polarity)
2 -- USB connector
3 -- Reset switch
4 -- Port E – up to 3 lines
5 -- Port A – up to 5 lines
6 -- Port B – up to 8 lines
7 -- Port C – up to 8 lines
8 -- Port D – up to 8 lines
9 -- RC clock speed control
10 -- RC clock speed switch
11 -- Clock crystal / RC switch
12 -- ICD2 socket
13 -- Power screw terminals, including 5V out
14 -- USB/ICD2 programming selector
15 -- USB/ICD2 power selector
16 -- Crystal fitted in a socket – this can be removed for different applications
17 -- USB control chip (do not remove)
18 -- Low Voltage Program pin selector link block
19 -- Expansion connectors
20 -- PICmicro microcontroller sockets – supports 8, 14, 18, 28, and 40 pin devices. Make sure that only one single PIC microcontroller at a time is plugged into any of those sockets!
21 -- 'Ready to go' programming LED
22 -- Power LED

The PIC In-Circuit Programmer

The included PICmicro Parallel Programmer software (PPP) allows an assembled program to be sent to virtually any PICmicro microcontroller on the board. PPP uses a simple user interface which is explained in the accompanying help file. Both raw OBJ files generated by TASM and ASCII-encoded HEX files generated by MPASM can be sent using PPP.

Features include:

HEX and OBJ file compatible
Range of Xtal and RC operation modes
Reads content of any nonprotected PICmicro
Verifies each byte of code sent
Bit selection on configuration word available for advanced users

E-blocks PIC USB Multiprogrammer Benefits

Can be used as a programmer and as a development board
Programs a wide range of PICmicro MCU devices
Flexible programming software provided
RC or Xtal operation
Interchangeable crystal
5 I/O ports
PIC16F88 MCU included

PIC Programmer Hardware

The Multiprogrammer connects to a personal computer via the USB socket. Any USB port on the PC can be used. The board's PIC16C745 USB microcontroller is used to communicate between the USB bus and the PIC device to be programmed (slave). The PIC16C745 USB micro is connected to a network of analog switches to route 0V, 5V and Vpp to appropriate pins on the slave PICmicro devices as and when necessary.

By default the pins RB6, RB7, and RB3 are used to program the slave PICmicro device.

E-blocks USB PIC Programmer Supported Devices

Currently PPP and the development board support the following devices:

PIC12F629, PIC12F675, PIC12F635, PIC12F683
PIC16F627A, PIC16F627, PIC16F628A, PIC16F628, PIC16F630, PIC16F648A, PIC16F676, PIC16F684, PIC16F688, PIC16F636, PIC16F716, PIC16F72, PIC16F737, PIC16F73, PIC16F747, PIC16F74, PIC16F767, PIC16F76, PIC16F777, PIC16F77, PIC16F818, PIC16F819, PIC16F83, PIC16F84A, PIC16F84, PIC16F870, PIC16F871, PIC16F872, PIC16F873A, PIC16F873, PIC16F874A, PIC16F874, PIC16F876A, PIC16F876, PIC16F877A, PIC16F877, PIC16F87, PIC16F88
PIC18F242, PIC18F248, PIC18F252, PIC18F258, PIC18F442, PIC18F448, PIC18F452, PIC18F458, PIC18F1220, PIC18F1320, PIC18F2220, PIC18F2320, PIC18F2331, PIC18F2410, PIC18F2420, PIC18F2431, PIC18F2439, PIC18F2455, PIC18F2510, PIC18F2515, PIC18F2520, PIC18F2525, PIC18F2539, PIC18F2550, PIC18F2585, PIC18F2586, PIC18F2610, PIC18F2620, PIC18F2680, PIC18F2681, PIC18F4220, PIC18F4320, PIC18F4331, PIC18F4410, PIC18F4420, PIC18F4431, PIC18F4439, PIC18F4455, PIC18F4510, PIC18F4515, PIC18F4520, PIC18F4525, PIC18F4539, PIC18F4550, PIC18F4585, PIC18F4586, PIC18F4610, PIC18F4620, PIC18F4680, PIC18F4681

Power Supply

The board can be powered from a 12V to 15V supply. Power can be connected using the 5.5mm/2.1mm power jack (either polarity), or the screw terminal connectors J7, J10. Two 5V output screw terminals are supplied for powering other E-blocks. The regulator will supply up to 400mA via all outputs.

The ‘ready to go’ indicator LED 1 connects to the board's PIC16C745 USB microcontroller. It only comes on when the board's USB port is connected with the PC's USB port.

Note: Remember that other E-blocks will have to receive 5V by placing a connecting wire from the “+V Out” screw terminal of the Multiprogrammer to the “+V” screw terminal of each E-Block that requires a voltage. Ground is supplied via any of the 9-pin Sub-D connectors used to connect other E-blocks.

PIC DIL Programming Sockets and I/O Ports

The board's DIL sockets for programming various pincount PIC microcontrollers are wired in parallel and the ports are fed out to five 9-pin Sub-D-type connectors grouped in ports. Some of the ports are only partially complete -- Port A has only 5 connections, and Port E has only 3 connections. This reflects the pinouts of the various PICmicro devices themselves. When using an 8-pin device it should be placed in the upper 8 pins of the 14-pin DIL socket. Please refer to the PIC device datasheets for availability of port outputs on each device.

NOTE: RA4 on many PICmicro devices has an open collector output. This means that you will most likely need an external pull-up resistor to be able to detect a change in output status. Please see the datasheet of the PIC device you are using for further details.

Reset Push Button

The Reset pushbutton PB1 provides a reset by pulling the MCLR pin low. Note that the PIC16C745 will reset the slave PICmicro as part of the send routine so that you do not need to press this switch each time you send your program to the board.

Frequency Selection

The board can be clocked by an RC network or by a Crystal. Slide switch SW2 dictates whether an RC circuit or a crystal circuit is used on the slave PICmicro device. Slide switch SW1 dictates whether a fast or slow RC network is used. In the RC oscillator mode potentiomer RV1 will allow you to vary the oscillator speed.

By default the board is fitted with a 19.6608MHz crystal. The crystal fits into a small socket, which allows the crystal to be changed easily. For use with C for PICmicro, Flowcode for PICmicro and Assembly for PICmicro courses a 3.768MHz crystal is recommended. These frequencies are chosen as they divide down by PICmicro prescalers to give suitable frequencies for serial communication using standard baud rates.

E-blocks USB Multiprogrammer Minimum System Requirements

Pentium 100 MHz, USB port, 1 MB hard disk space, 16 MB RAM, Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP.

E-blocks Overview

For more details on E-blocks and available e-block boards, see our E-blocks category.

E-blocks are small circuit boards each of which contains a block of electronics that you would typically find in an electronic system. Each E-block performs a separate function as either an input sub-system, an output sub-system, an input/output sub-system or a processing sub-system.

E-blocks can be put together to form a variety of systems that can be used for teaching and learning electronics, and for the rapid prototyping of complex electronic systems.

Each E-block has one or more 9-way D-type connectors that provide up to 8 input/output lines and a ground line. These D-type connectors allow connection between E-blocks to be made in buses of multiples of 8 lines, just like a real electronic system. Power is routed separately to those E-blocks that need it.

Processing E-blocks control the whole E-blocks system. PICmicro microcontrollers are used as the preferred processor; they provide up to 5 E-block ports with up to 8 lines per port.

Bundle Options

You can also order this Multiprogrammer board in the following bundle packages available at a significant discount from the cost of the individual pieces: